New York Islanders: Islanders roster moves prove that Lou Lamoriello is not messing around

The New York Islanders roster is starting to take shape as the preseason concludes and the regular season approaches. The most recent installment of the Isles roster trimming proves that Lou Lamoriello isn’t messing around.

The New York Islanders roster trimming continued this week and it seems like Lou Lamoriello is not messing around.

Before Lou Lamoriello even arrived here early in the offseason, there were question marks about this Isles team.

How were they going to replace John Tavares? Will we see more of Joshua Ho-Sang? Will Kieffer Bellows get over into the NHL? Who will fill the bottom six?

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That sounds like a lot but were just some of the questions surrounding the Isles roster. More questions came about once Barry Trotz took over and began getting on the ice with his team.

Now, finally, things are clearer than ever.

On Monday, the Isles trimmed the roster down. There were some names that were shocking to see go, but the rest felt routine.

Some of the names that fans wanted to see on the final roster that got cut include, but are not limited to, Josh Ho-Sang, Kieffer Bellows, Sebastian Aho, and Michael Dal Colle.

There was even a brief stretch where it felt like Noah Dobson was going to hang on to the opening day roster spot and play for the Isles in just his first year in the system.

However, none of these guys will be there when the team opens the season on October 4 in Carolina.

The common thread among many of the players cut is that they are fan favorites. The youth movement, and players who are fresh faces, young and talented.

The Josh Ho-Sang saga continues and the Kieffer Bellows takeover is not about to happen.

But, the number one thing the recent stretch of roster cuts shows is that Lou Lamoriello, the Isles new GM, is not messing around.

Instead of doing what makes the fans happy, or tryoing the unique tactic to get younger and bring in mostly new players with a new coach, he is committed to something else.

He is committed to what he already has on the roster, the guys already signed to contracts. But, he is committed to doing what is best for the team. No pre-determined narratives.

The only way a player like Ho-Sang will make it to the NHL is by lighting it up in Bridgeport in the AHL.

He will be called up when the Isles seemingly have no choice. As will Bellows. Same thing with Aho who saw time mostly last year because of injuries.

I’m not saying that Lou probably thinks the Isles can win now. I am saying is that he is smart for doing his thing and not letting the Isles having potentially great up and coming young talent blind him from anything.

The best way to ruin a handful of young talent is to not use it right, not let them develop properly. That is what Lou is not going to let happen.

There are a certain time and place where all the great players the Isles have coming up through the ranks will cement their legacy with the team. It is even okay to be excited for a player like Oliver Wahlstrom who is still years away from being in the NHL.

What Lou is doing now is not messing around. He is picking the players that have the best NHL ready talent right now. Sure, losing with Ho-Sang or Bellows in the lineup is better than potentially losing without them, but it’s just not the time.

Plus, by not having them up gives the isles the best chance to win right now anyway. The season is a long one and if the Isles eventually develop team needs that are clear and concrete down the road, it will be satisfying to know they have talent playing and learning to come in.

Lou Lamoriello is and always has been all business. He has the resume to back up that we should all trust him.

The Isles opening day roster might not be pretty on paper, it might not even be pretty on the ice, but we just have to think it is the best one they could put out right now.

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Lou is already doing better than Garth Snow ever did, and Snow messed around with the young talent a lot and wasted some great players. Lou does not roll like that and it might lead to some surprising results.

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